ABA Amicus Brief Says Life Without Parole Is Unconstitutional in Juvenile Murder Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering an arguement by the ABA which filed an amicus brief that argues a sentence of life without parole for juveniles convicted of murder is cruel and unusual punishment.

The issue in the two cases involving juveniles convicted of murder when they were 14 years old. The brief filed last week holds that life without parole is unconstitutional as applied to any juvenile offender under the age of 18. The ABA is not requesting that all juveniles should be entitled to parole but that they should not be denied the opportunity to be considered for parole.